Improved handling of re-transmissions in a wireless communication network

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a node (AP2, U11) in a wireless communication system (1), where the node (AP2, U11) is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes (AP1, AP0) in the wireless communication system (1), and where the other nodes (AP1, AP0) are first type nodes (AP1, AP0) which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication. The node (AP2, U11) is adapted to receive a signal (xA) transmitted from an adjacent first type node (AP1), where the (xA) has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node (AP0). In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal (xA), the node (AP2, U11) is adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal (xA), and to receive a re-transmission of the signal (xA) directly from a farther first type node (AP0).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to relaying in wireless communication networks, in particular in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks.

BACKGROUND

The fifth generation of wireless networks (5G) must provide high-rate data streams for everyone everywhere at any time. To meet such demands, it is required to use large bandwidths. Here, it is mainly concentrated on millimeter wave-based, potentially, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MMIMO), links as a key enabler to obtain sufficiently large bandwidths/data rates. Importantly, the presence of very wide bandwidths makes it possible to include the wireless backhaul transport in the same spectrum as the wireless access. In such a setup, there is thus a sharing of radio resources between access and backhaul links which implies that access and backhaul links compete over the same radio resources pool.

For this reason, 3GPP has considered such integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network configurations where an access point (AP), that for example can be fiber-connected, provides other APs as well as the customer-premises equipments (CPE:s) inside its cell area with wireless backhaul and access connections, respectively. The access-integrated backhaul link can either be a single-hop or multi-hop link in an IAB network. In a multi-hop deployment, the IAB network from one AP is relayed along a certain route from AP to AP until it reaches its destination. IAB networks can thus have either star-like configuration with multiple APs wirelessly backhauled through direct single-hop connections to the fiber-connected AP, or a cascade configuration with APs wirelessly connected to the fiber-connected AP in a multi-hop fashion.

It is desired to densify the network with a large number of access points (AP:s), each one serving a number of CPE:s inside its corresponding relatively small cell area. Compared to the cases with few macro base stations covering a wide area, less path loss/shadowing, and higher Line Of Sight (LOS) connection probability are expected in dense small-cell networks. As a result, better channel quality is experienced in these short-range links, compared to the cases with few macro base stations.

Among the advantageous of IAB networks are the followings:

Cost Reduction:

A fiber optic link is relatively expensive in metropolitan areas, with a majority of the total figure tied to trenching and installation. For this reason, as well as the traffic jams and infrastructure displacements, some cities have considered a moratorium on fiber trenching specially in historical areas. In such scenarios, millimeter wave-based wireless backhaul is the best alternative providing almost the same rate as fiber optic with significantly less price and no digging.

Link Quality Enhancement:

Compared to the direct macro base station (BS)-CPE link, less path loss/shadowing, and higher line-of-sight (LOS) connection probability are expected for the wirelessly backhauled AP-CPE connections within small cells. As a result, better channel quality is experienced in such small cells, compared to the cases with direct macro BS-CPE connection.

Long-Term Network Planning:

IAB systems are of most interest in small cell backhaul and fixed wireless access (FWA) networks with stationary APs/CPEs. This makes it possible to predict the channel quality and perform accurate network planning for multiple packet transmissions.

In a multi-hop IAB network, the backhaul links are the bottleneck of the transmission setup. As an example, the IAB node directly connected to the fiber-connected IAB donor node is the most loaded node of the network which needs to transmit/receive messages of its associated CPEs as well as all other IAB nodes. This leads to high end-to-end and scheduling delay for the last hops of the network. The problem becomes emphasized in the cases with failed message transmission in the heavily-loaded nodes, as the spectrum is used for re-transmissions such as multiple hybrid automatic repeat (HARQ)-based retransmissions. This is specially because the IAB networks are mostly designed for, e.g., fixed wireless access (FWA) networks, with stationary nodes which suffer from low network diversity and require many retransmissions in case a message transmission fails.

For these reasons and to support a large number of hops and/or CPEs-per-hop, it is desired to have smart data transmission schemes such that not only the load of the highly-loaded IAB nodes is reduced but also the spectrum underutilization of the other nodes is avoided and the network diversity increases.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a node in a wireless communication system which communicate with at least one other node, where it is desired that the load of highly-loaded nodes is reduced, and that spectrum underutilization of the other nodes is avoided.

This object is obtained by means of a node in a wireless communication system, wherein the node is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are first type nodes which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication. The node is further adapted to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node. In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the node is adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal, and to receive a re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node.

In this way, the load and buffer requirement of the adjacent first type node is reduced, and consequently the scheduling delay is reduced as well because part of the data is transferred without using the adjacent first type node. Re-transmission is performed without any system cost in terms of spectrum and scheduling delay, where network diversity is increased and, consequently, the probability of requiring multiple retransmission rounds is reduced.

According to some aspects, the node is adapted to send a request for re-transmission of the signal directly to a farther first type node.

In this way, the adjacent first type node is not involved in handling the signal after the initial transmission to the node.

According to some aspects, the node is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding backhaul channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a direct backhaul channel.

This means that the present disclosure is applicable for backhaul communication between access points. Using a direct backhaul channel alleviates all burden from the adjacent first type node after the initial transmission to the node.

According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node that is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

According to some aspects, the node is a second type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding access channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a via a direct access channel.

This means that a second type node such as a CPE initially can communicate with an adjacent first type node such as an access point, and receive possible retransmissions directly from a farther first type node. Using a direct access channel between the second type node and the farther first type node alleviates all burden from the adjacent first type node after the initial transmission to the node.

According to some aspects, the communication between the first type nodes is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel, and where at least one first type node is adapted to communicate with a corresponding group of second type nodes via a corresponding access channel. Each group of second type nodes comprises at least one second type node, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes.

This means that the present disclosure is applicable for backhaul communication between access points and CPE:s in an IAB network.

According to some aspects, a re-transmission of the signal are issued in temporarily inactive time periods where the node and the farther node are not engaged in any communication with other nodes.

This leads to lower end-to-end transmission delay, reduced buffer requirement and higher throughput for the second type nodes that are served by the node

According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission (NACK) of the signal is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

This object is also obtained by means of a first type node in a wireless communication system, where the first type node is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system. At least one of the other nodes is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication. The node is further adapted to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and to forward the signal to a receiving node. The first type node is adapted to delete the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.

In this way, the load and buffer requirement of the first type node is reduced, and consequently the scheduling delay is reduced as well because part of the data is transferred without involving the first type node. Re-transmission is performed without any system cost in terms of spectrum and scheduling delay, where network diversity is also increased and, consequently, the probability of requiring multiple retransmission rounds is reduced.

According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

This object is also obtained by means of methods and a communication system that are associated with the above advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will now be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to a first example at a first time;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a second time;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a following time slot;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a timing diagram for the wireless communication system in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to a first example at a first time;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a second time;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of methods according to embodiments;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of methods according to embodiments;

FIG. 9A schematically shows a first type node;

FIG. 9B schematically shows a first type node; and

FIG. 10 schematically shows a graphical representation of accumulated SNR.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The different devices, systems, computer programs and methods disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for describing aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Network densification takes advantage of wireless backhaul; due to a relatively high installation cost of fiber links, as well as traffic jams and infrastructure displacements, the relatively small application points (APs) need to be supported by high-rate LOS wireless backhaul links which motivates so-called integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is a wireless communication system 1 comprising an IAB network 7 with four hops. There are first type nodes AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ in the wireless communication system 1, here in the form of a first access point AP₀, a second access point AP₁ a third access point AP₂ and a fourth access point AP₃. The access points AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ are arranged for communication with each other in the wireless communication system 1 over a corresponding first backhaul channel H₁, second backhaul channel H₂, and third backhaul channel H₃ having a certain channel quality, generally by means of one of at least one type of signal relaying that according to some aspects employs decoding and encoding. According to some aspects, the signal relaying is constituted by decoding-encoding forward, DF, relaying of a signal.

Each access point AP₀, AP₁, AP₂ AP₃ is adapted for access communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes U₀₁, U₀₂; U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ via a corresponding access channel h₀₁, h₀₂; h₁₁, h₁₂; h₂₁, h₂₂; h₃₁, h₃₂, providing wireless access. The second type nodes U₀₁, U₀₂; U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ are here in the form of customer-premises equipments (CPE:s), and generally each group of CPE:s U₀₁, U₀₂; U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ comprises at least one CPE. The number of CPE:s for each access point AP₀, AP₁, AP₂ AP₃ in FIG. 1 is only an example; there can be any number of CPE:s for each access point AP₀, AP₁, AP₂ AP₃. One or more access points can according to some aspects lack CPE:s to serve, only serving as relaying nodes. Generally, a network with N access points and m CPE:s per access point. Also, the CPE:s served by AP₁ are generally denoted by U_(ij), j=1, . . . , m.

The backhaul communication and the access communication are according to some aspects both performed by means of common equipment at the access points AP₀, AP₁, AP₂ AP₃. The second access point AP₁, the third access point AP₂ and the fourth access point AP₃ are wirelessly 5 backhauled by the first access point AP₀ connecting to a core network 2 using a fiber connection 5. An access point AP₀ connected to a core network can be referred to as an IAB donor node.

In IAB networks, uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmission do not follow the common definition, as both endpoints of the backhaul links are access points. However, for simplicity, we refer to data transmission towards (resp. from) the first access point AP₀ as UL (resp. DL) transmission. The present disclosure is applicable for DL transmission from the first access point AP₀ to the other nodes.

Different scheduling protocols can be considered, and in the following example a time slot 6, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is divided into receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) sub-slots RX_(s), TX_(s) for the first access point AP₀, and in each one there is both backhaul and access connections. this means that the discussions relate to both UL transmission from the CPE:s U₀₁, U₀₂; U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ to the first access point AP₀. and DL transmission from the first access point AP₀ to the CPE:s U₀₁, U₀₂; U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂. Also, the setup is discussed for time-division multiple access (TDMA) setup. However, the same scheme can also be adapted for other resource allocation approaches such as for example frequency-division multiple access (FDMA).

As the number of hops/CPEs per hop increases, the AP:s need to transfer an aggregated data of multiple CPE:s accumulated from the previous hops. As a result, the AP-AP backhaul links are heavily loaded, which may lead to high decoding complexity/delay and buffering cost for the AP:s as well as large end-to-end transmission delay/low end-to-end throughput for the CPE:s. This becomes more and more pronounced the closer an AP is to an access point AP₀ that is connected to a core network 2.

More in detail, in a general case with m CPE:s per access point, which can be applied to the present example, for each time slot, the first access point AP₀ needs to send 2 Nm signals for both its m CPEs, m DL and m UL signals, in access and the DL/UL backhaul signals for (N−1)m CPEs of the other access points AP₁, AP₂, AP₃. Then, access point i>0 needs to transfer 2(2 Nm−im) signals in total, both access and backhaul, DL and UL. As a result, the second access point, AP₁ is the busiest node being active during the whole time slot, while the other access points AP₂, AP₃ may be off in some periods and wait for the previous hops to finish their data transmission.

This is because:

-   -   Part of the spectrum is underutilized because different access         points need to wait until the data transmission of the more         loaded access points are finished, and     -   The high load of the second access point AP₁ and other highly         loaded nodes leads to large scheduling delay for all CPE:s.

The problem becomes more important if the data transmission in the link between the second access point AP₁ and the third access point AP₂ via the second backhaul channel H₂ fails. This is because IAB networks are mostly designed for, e.g., fixed wireless access (FWA) networks, with stationary CPE:s for which the network diversity is low. Thus, with high probability, multiple retransmissions based on HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) may be needed, which results in even higher scheduling delay and buffer requirement of the second access point AP₁.

A first example is illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 only one signal is shown for reasons of clarity, while all signals during a time slot 6 are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, where FIG. 4 shows a timing diagram that corresponds to FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1, a first signal x_(A) is transmitted from the first access point AP₀ to the second access point AP₁. In FIG. 2, the first signal x_(A) is transmitted from the second access point AP₁ to the third access point AP₂. The third access point AP₂ is, however, unable to successfully decode the first signal x_(A).

According to the present disclosure, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, for example during a receive sub-slot RX_(s), the third access point AP₂ is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x_(A) directly to the first access point AP₀ via a direct backhaul channel H₄ between the first access point AP₀ and the third access point AP₂. According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x_(A) is based on HARQ. NACK can be sent in different ways, even in a totally different frequency.

This means that the third access point AP₂ does not request re-transmission from the second access point AP₁, which will alleviate the working of the second access point AP₁ which normally is heavily loaded.

During a following transmit sub-slot TX_(s), the first access point AP₀ is adapted to re-transmit the first signal x_(A) directly to the third access point AP₂ via the direct backhaul channel H₄, and the third access point AP₂ is adapted to receive the re-transmitted first signal x_(A) directly from the first access point AP₀ via the direct backhaul channel H₄.

In this context, for the third access point AP₂, the second access point AP₁ is an adjacent first type node, and the first access point AP₀ is a farther first type node.

This means that after having transmitted the first signal x_(A) to the third access point AP₂, the second access point AP₁ is no longer involved in the further handling of the first signal x_(A), which reduces the burden of the third access point AP₂. According to some aspects the first signal x_(A) is deleted from the buffer memory of the second access point AP₁ after the transmission of the first signal x_(A). The first signal x_(A) is, however, retained in the buffer memory of the first access point AP₀.

When the first signal x_(A) has been successfully decoded by the third access point AP₂, it is forwarded to either the CPE:s U₂₁, U₂₂ that are served by the third access point AP₂, or to the fourth access point AP₃, depending on the final destination for the first signal x_(A).

According to some aspects, the following re-transmission of the first signal x_(A) is performed in time periods T₁ where the third access point AP₂ and the first access point AP₀ are not engaged in any communication with other nodes. This will be described in the following with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

In the receive sub-slot RX_(s), the first access point AP₀ is receiving information x₂, x₄ from its served CPE:s U₀₁, U₀₂, and information x₁₈ from the second access point AP₁. The second access point AP₁ transmits information x₂₀ to the third access point AP₂, the information x₁₈ to the first access point AP₀ and information x₅, x₇ to its served CPE:s U₁₁, U₁₂. The third access point AP₂ receives the information x₂₀ from the second access point AP₁, information x₂₂ from the fourth access point AP₃ and information x₁₀, x₁₂ from its served CPE:s U₂₁, U₂₂. The fourth access point AP₃ transmits the information x₂₂ to the third access point AP₂, and information x₁₄, x₁₆ to its served CPE:s U₃₁, U₃₂.

In the transmit sub-slot TX_(s), the first access point AP₀ is transmitting information x₁, x₃ to its served CPE:s U₀₁, U₀₂, and information x₁₇ to the second access point AP₁. The second access point AP₁ receives information x₁₉ from the third access point AP₂, the information x₁₇ from the first access point AP₀ and information x₆, x₈ from its served CPE:s U₁, U₁₂. The third access point AP₂ transmits the information x₁₉ to the second access point AP₁, information x₂₁ to the fourth access point AP₃ and information x₉, x₁₁ to its served CPE:s U₂₁, U₂₂. The fourth access point AP₃ receives the information x₂₁ from the third access point AP₂, and information x₁₃, x₁₅ from its served CPE:s U₃₁, U₃₂.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present disclosure, the first access point AP₀ can take advantage of a first time period T₁ in the transmit sub-slot TX_(s), when the first access point AP₀ and the third access point AP₂ are temporarily inactive, to re-transmit the first signal x_(A) to the third access point AP₂. The re-transmission takes place via the direct backhaul channel H₄ between the first access point AP₀ and the third access point AP₂.

Temporarily inactive time periods T₁ of different hops can thus be used to reduce network end-to-end transmission delay as well as buffer requirement.

The present disclosure will now be discussed more in detail for the present example.

By means of the present disclosure, to reduce the buffer requirement of the second access point AP₁ and reduce the scheduling delay, the second access point AP₁ is only responsible for the initial transmission of the first signal x_(A) to the third access point AP₂. Then, immediately after initial transmission, the second access point AP₁ drops the first signal x_(A) and does not wait for the acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) from the third access point AP₂. That is, in terms of HARQ-based retransmissions, the second access point AP₁ is only responsible for the retransmissions to its own CPEs, i.e., U_(1j), j=1, . . . , m and not for the signals of the third access point AP₂ or the fourth access point AP₃.

Receiving the initial first signal x_(A) from the second access point AP₁, the third access point AP₂, tries to decode the received first signal x_(A). If the first signal x_(A) is correctly decoded, the third access point AP₂ sends an ACK to the first access point AP₀, and then the first access point AP₀ drops the associated buffered first signal x_(A). Otherwise, the third access point AP₂ sends an NACK to the first access point AP₀. Then, the HARQ-based retransmission starts where the first access point AP₀ uses temporarily inactive time periods, e.g., the time period T₁ in FIG. 4, to retransmit the signal directly to the third access point AP₂. The retransmissions continues until the signal is correctly decoded or a maximum number of retransmissions, suitably considered by the network designer, is reached. Note that the second access point AP₁ is completely bypassed during the retransmission rounds and the first access point AP₀ connects to the third access point AP₂ directly.

When and how to send the ACK/NACK to the first access point AP₀ can differ. In this example, once second access point AP₁ has transmitted the initial first signal x_(A), it is removed from its buffer and the second access point AP₁ does not care anymore if the third access point AP₂ can decode first signal x_(A) or not. Then, for possible retransmissions, the third access point AP₂ communicates directly with the first access point AP₀, both for retransmissions and ACK/NACK feedbacks via the direct backhaul channel H₄. Preferably the retransmission of signal from AP₀ to AP₂ are according to some aspects performed in temporarily inactive time periods T₁ because they often are costly and relatively long signals. The ACK/NACK is normally relatively short and not costly and can be transmitted in the same or a different frequency band.

When sending the first signal x_(A) to the third access point AP₂ via the second access point AP₁, the first access point AP₀ buffers the first signal x_(A). Then, the first access point AP₀ waits for ACK/NACK feedbacks from the third access point AP₂, and if the third access point AP₂ fails to decode the first signal x_(A) from the initial data transmission of the second access point AP₁, the first access point AP₀ will take care of the retransmissions to the third access point AP₂ in the temporarily inactive time periods. Compared to data transmission in the AP₀-AP₁ link, the first access point AP₀ may adapt the transmission power/rate and use a different beamforming scheme when retransmitting the failed first signal x_(A) directly to the third access point AP₂ in the temporarily inactive time periods. Also, the timings are adapted depending on if the second access point AP₁ or the third access point AP₂ are receiving signals from the first access point AP₀.

The AP-AP links are stationary and the second access point AP₁ can determine the appropriate transmission rate/power with high accuracy such that the third access point AP₂ can decode a received signal correctly with high probability. Therefore, the retransmission may be required rarely. Thus, considering the high load of the second access point AP₁, it is mostly not necessary that the second access point AP₁ buffers all signals to the third access point AP₂ for the rare cases of requiring retransmissions. On the other hand, due to accurate parameter adaptation, if the third access point AP₂ fails to decode a received signal, a successfully decoded signal is normally almost obtained and the third access point AP₂ only needs a small boost to decode the failed signal. This small boost can be well provided by the first access point AP₀ via the direct backhaul channel H₄ even if the link via the direct backhaul channel H₄ may be weak.

This is illustrated in FIG. 10, where it is shown that a large part of the SNR required by the third access point AP₂ for successful message decoding is provided by the initial transmission of the first signal x_(A) from the second access point AP₁. The third access point AP₂ fails to decode the first signal x_(A) in a first transmission 10, since the SNR falls below a threshold y for successful decoding. A re-transmission 11 results in that the SNR exceeds the threshold v for successful decoding. Since the first signal x_(A) in the first transmission 10 is relatively close to the threshold y for successful decoding, in the re-transmission only a relatively small boost of the SNR is needed to exceed the threshold y for successful decoding.

In this way, the load and buffer requirement of the second access point AP₁ is reduced, and consequently the scheduling delay is reduced as well because part of the data is transferred without using the second access point AP₁.

Re-transmission, for example using HARQ, is performed without any system cost in terms of spectrum and scheduling delay where spectrum utilization is improved by using the temporarily inactive time periods T₁. Performing the initial transmission via the second backhaul channel H₂ and retransmissions via the direct backhaul channel H₄ increases the network diversity and, consequently, reduces the probability of requiring multiple HARQ-based retransmission rounds.

Moreover, the spectrum utilization is improved by using the temporarily inactive time periods T₁, which leads to lower end-to-end transmission delay and higher throughput for the CPE:s U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ that are served by the third access point AP₂ and the fourth access point AP₃.

According to some aspects, the third access point AP₂ sends an ACK/NACK, in dependence of if the decoding has been successful or not, to the to the first access point AP₀ via the first access point AP₁, via the second backhaul channel H₂ and the first backhaul channel H₁, not via the direct backhaul channel H₄. The re-transmitted signal x_(A) is always transmitted via the direct backhaul channel H₄. This is a possible aspect, since the ACK/NACK signal contains relatively little information and contributes relatively little to the load of an AP compared to a normal data message. This can be applicable for all examples and other possible signal routes.

With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a second example is provided. Here, only one signal is shown for reasons of clarity.

In FIG. 5, two instances in time are shown. First, a first signal x_(A) is transmitted from the first access point AP₀ to second access point AP₁, and then from the second access point AP₁ to a first CPE U₁₁ that is served by the second access point AP₁. The first CPE U₁₁ is, however, unable to successfully decode the first signal x_(A).

According to the present disclosure, with reference to FIG. 6, the first CPE U₁₁ is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x_(A) directly to the first access point AP₀ via a direct access channel h₁₃ between the first access point AP₀ and first CPE U₁₁.

According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal x_(A) is based on HARQ.

This means that the first CPE U₁₁ does not request re-transmission from the second access point AP₁, which will alleviate the working of the second access point AP₁ which normally is heavily loaded.

The first access point AP₀ is adapted to re-transmit the first signal x_(A) directly to the first CPE U₁₁ via the direct access channel h₁₃, and the first CPE U₁₁ is adapted to receive the re-transmitted first signal x_(A) directly from the first access point AP₀ via the direct access channel h₁₃.

In this context, for the first CPE U₁₁, the second access point AP₁ is an adjacent first type node, and the first access point AP₀ is a farther first type node.

The present disclosure can thus be implemented for both backhaul communication and access communication.

By means of the present disclosure, scheduling and end-to-end data transmission delays are reduced, network diversity is increased, buffer requirement of the AP nodes is reduced, and different AP nodes of the network will have an equalized load which leads to better balance of the load in different AP nodes. Particularly, the load/buffer requirement of the most loaded AP nodes, in the examples above the second application point AP₁, is reduced and spectrum utilization of low-loaded nodes as well as the network diversity are increased, such that spectrum underutilization of low-loaded nodes is avoided.

The temporarily inactive time periods of the AP nodes with low spectrum utilization are used for HARQ-based retransmissions, in case the data transmission in the heavily-loaded links fails, which increases the network diversity and reduces the probability of requiring multiple HARQ-based retransmissions. As a further result, the heavily-loaded nodes are not responsible for HARQ-based retransmissions, and can drop the message from their buffer after the first transmission. Also, depending on the data transmission method in different time slots, the timing, the beamforming and the buffering methods of the IAB nodes are updated. In this way, this leads to improved end-to-end throughput of the CPE:s, better energy efficiency, and decreased buffer requirement for the AP nodes.

As a result of this, the number of hops and/or the number of CPE:s per hop can be increased.

With reference to FIG. 7, the present disclosure also relates to a method in a node AP₂, U₁₁ in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the method comprises communicating S1 with at least two other nodes AP₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system 1, where the other nodes AP₁, AP₀ are of a first type and constitute first type nodes AP₁, AP₀ that use backhaul communication when communicating with each other. The method further comprises receiving S2 a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₁, where the signal x_(A) has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP₀. In case of unsuccessful decoding S3 of the signal x_(A), the method comprises requesting S4 re-transmission NACK of the signal x_(A) and receiving S5 re-transmission of the signal x_(A) directly from a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the method comprises sending S41 a request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x_(A) directly to a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP₂ that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding backhaul channel H₁, and for communication with said farther first type node AP₀ via a via a direct backhaul channel H₄.

According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP₀ that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U₁₁ that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding access channel h₁₁, and for communication with said farther first type node AP₀ via a via a direct access channel h₁₃.

According to some aspects, the communication between the first type nodes AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel H₁, H₂, H₃, H₄, and where at least one first type node AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ is used for communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ via a corresponding access channel h₁₁, h₁₂; h₂₁, h₂₂; h₃₁, h₃₂. Each group of second type nodes U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ comprises at least one second type node U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃.

According to some aspects, the method comprises re-transmission of the signal x_(A) in temporarily inactive time periods T₁ where the node AP₂ and the farther node AP₀ are not used for communication with other nodes.

According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x_(A) is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

With reference to FIG. 8, the present disclosure also relates to a method in a first type node AP₁ in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the method comprises communicating T1 with at least two other nodes AP₂, U₁₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system 1, where at least one of the other nodes AP₂, AP₀ is a first type node that uses backhaul communication when communicating with other first type nodes, and receiving T2 a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₀. The method further comprises forwarding T3 the signal x_(A) to a receiving node AP₂, U₁₁, and deleting T4 the forwarded signal x_(A) from its buffer after having forwarded the signal x_(A), irrespective of if the receiving node AP₂, U₁₁ is able to decode the signal x_(A) or not.

According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node AP₀ is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

As shown in FIG. 9A, according to some aspects, a node AP₂, U₁₁, in a wireless communication system 1 comprises a processor unit 3 that is adapted to control communication with at least two other first type nodes AP₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system 1. The processor unit 3 is further adapted to control reception of a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₁, where the signal x_(A) has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP₀. In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal x_(A), the processor unit 3 is further adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x_(A); and to control reception of a re-transmission of the signal x_(A) directly from a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the processor unit 3 is adapted to control a sending of a request for re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x_(A) directly to a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP₂ that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding backhaul channel H₁, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP₀ via a via a direct backhaul channel H₄.

According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP₀ that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U₁₁ that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding access channel h₁₁, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP₀ via a via a direct access channel h₁₃.

As shown in FIG. 9B, according to some aspects, a first type node AP₁ in a wireless communication system 1 comprises a processor unit 4 that is adapted to control communication with at least two other first type nodes AP₂, U₁₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes AP₂, AP₀ is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication. The processor unit 4 is further adapted to control reception of a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₀, and to forward the signal x_(A) to a receiving node AP₂, U₁₁. The processor unit 3 is further adapted to delete the forwarded signal x_(A) from a buffer memory after transmission of the signal x_(A), irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal x_(A) or not.

According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node is a first type node AP₀ that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

The present disclosure also relates to a wireless communication system 1 comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network 7 which in turn comprises the nodes AP₂, U₁₁; AP₁ discussed above with reference to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in the examples discussed above, the first access point AP₀ connects to the third access point AP₂ directly to provide it with the signals of the served CPE:s U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ of both the third access point AP₂ and the fourth access point AP₃. However, according to some aspects, the first access point AP₀ is adapted to directly receive a NACK for a certain signal from any access point that is not closest to the first access point AP₀, for example directly from the fourth access point AP₃. The first access point AP₀ is then adapted to directly re-transmit said certain signal to any access point that is not closest to the first access point AP₀, for example directly to the fourth access point AP₃ in a second time period T₂ where the first access point AP₀ and the fourth access point AP₃ are temporarily inactive.

In the examples discussed above, a time slot 6 is divided into sub-slots RX_(s), TX_(s), each one having access and backhaul connections. In another approach, a time slot is divided into access and backhaul sub-slots where each one has DL and UL transmission. Generally, the present disclosure is applicable for different schemes of time allocation.

According to some aspects, the efficiency of the present disclosure depends on the amount of interference added to the access links between the second access point AP₁ and its served CPE:s U₁₁, U₁₂ by means of the direct transmission from, for example, the first access point AP₀ to the third access point AP₂. However, because the AP:s normally are equipped with many antennas and advanced beamforming methods, and also because the direct communication via the direct channel H₄ does not need to have high rate and, consequently, possibly relatively low transmission power, the interference to the access links between the second access point AP₁ and its served CPE:s U₁₁, U₁₂ will be negligible. This is especially because an IAB network normally is used for stationary networks where the channel measurements and parameter settings can be done before the data transmission.

According to some aspects, examples of important parts of the present disclosure are:

-   -   1) As discussed previously, present disclosure is applicable for         setting up a direct channel between two nodes such that one node         is bypassed and relieved. For example, the fourth access point         AP₃ can communicate directly with the first access point AP₀ via         a corresponding direct backhaul channel.     -   2) In the examples described, a time slot is divided into RX/TX         sub-slots RX_(s), TX_(s), each one having access and backhaul         connections. In another approach, the time slot is divided into         access and backhaul sub-slots each one having DL and UL         transmission. The present disclosure is applicable for different         schemes of time allocation.     -   3) The efficiency of the proposed method depends on if a fairly         good direct backhaul channel H₄ can be found. However, because a         large part of the minimum SNR required for successfully decoding         has been provided by the initial transmission of the signal         x_(A) as shown in FIG. 10, lower data rates can be used for the         direct backhaul channel H₄ without affecting end-to-end data         transmission delay.

According to some aspects, the present disclosure can easily extended to the cases with arbitrary number of hops, different relaying approaches or star-like network configuration.

According to some aspects, in the present context, the term signal corresponds to a data signal or a data message. According to some aspects, in the present context, the terms relay and relaying correspond to the terms forward and forwarding.

According to some aspects, the node AP₂, U₁₁ that sends a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal x_(A), can either send directly to the first access point AP₀, or to the second access point AP₁ that forwards the NACK to the first access point AP₀.

The present disclosure has been described for an uncomplicated case with relatively few hops, although the present disclosure can be applied to the cases with arbitrary number of hops and CPE:s.

In the examples, the third access point AP₂ has been adapted to communicate directly with the first access point AP₀ via the direct backhaul channel H₄, but not the fourth access point AP₃ that has to depend on relaying via the third access point AP₂ for both uplink and downlink. According to some aspects, the fourth access point AP₃ and possibly one or more other (not shown) access points can also be adapted to communicate directly with the first access point AP₀, or other suitable access points, via corresponding direct backhaul channels.

According to some aspects, the wireless communication system 1 can be any suitable communication system that comprises any suitable wireless network. According to some aspects, the wireless communication system 1 comprises one or more IAB networks 7.

The present disclosure is applicable for both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmissions as well as for different types of HARQ.

Generally, the present disclosure relates to a node AP₂, U₁₁ in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the node AP₂, U₁₁ is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes AP₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system 1, where the other nodes AP₁, AP₀ are first type nodes AP₁, AP₀ which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication. The node AP₂, U₁₁ is further adapted to receive a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₁, where the signal x_(A) has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP₀. In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal x_(A), the node AP₂, U₁₁ is adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x_(A), and to receive a re-transmission of the signal x_(A) directly from a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the node AP₂, U₁₁ is adapted to send a request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x_(A) directly to a farther first type node AP₀.

According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP₂ that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding backhaul channel H₁, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP₀ via a direct backhaul channel H₄.

According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP₀ that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U₁₁ that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP₁ over a corresponding access channel h₁₁, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP₀ via a via a direct access channel h₁₃.

According to some aspects, the communication between the first type nodes AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel H₁, H₂, H₃, H₄, and where at least one first type node AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃ is adapted to communicate with a corresponding group of second type nodes U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ via a corresponding access channel h₁₁, h₁₂; h₂₁, h₂₂; h₃₁, h₃₂, each group of second type nodes U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂ comprising at least one second type node U₁₁, U₁₂; U₂₁, U₂₂; U₃₁, U₃₂, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes AP₀, AP₁, AP₂, AP₃.

According to some aspects, a re-transmission of the signal x_(A) are issued in temporarily inactive time periods T₁ where the node AP₂ and the farther node AP₀ are not engaged in any communication with other nodes.

According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x_(A) is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

Generally, the present disclosure also relates to first type node AP₁ in a wireless communication system 1, where the first type node AP₁ is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes AP₂, U₁₁, AP₀ in the wireless communication system 1, where at least one of the other nodes AP₂, AP₀ is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication. The first type node AP₁ is adapted to receive a signal x_(A) transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP₀, and to forward the signal x_(A) to a receiving node AP₂, U₁₁. The first type node AP₁ is adapted to delete the forwarded signal x_(A) from its buffer after having forwarded the signal x_(A), irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal x_(A) or not.

According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node AP₀ is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

Generally, the present disclosure also relates to wireless communication system 1 comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network 7 which in turn comprises at least the node AP₂, U₁₁ according to the above and the first type node AP₁ according to the above. 

1. A node in a wireless communication system, wherein the node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are first type nodes which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication; and to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the node is adapted to: request re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and to receive a re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node.
 2. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal directly to a farther first type node.
 3. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding backhaul channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a direct backhaul channel.
 4. The node according to claim 1, wherein the farther first type node is a first type node that is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.
 5. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is a second type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding access channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a via-a direct access channel.
 6. The node according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the first type nodes is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel, and where at least one first type node is adapted to communicate with a corresponding group of second type nodes via a corresponding access channel, each group of second type nodes comprising at least one second type node, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes.
 7. The node according to claim 1, wherein a re-transmission of the signal is issued in temporarily inactive time periods where the node and the farther node are not engaged in any communication with other nodes.
 8. The node according to claim 1, wherein the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ.
 9. A first type node in a wireless communication system, where the first type node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication; receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and to forward the signal to a receiving node; wherein the first type node is adapted to delete the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.
 10. The first type node according to claim 9, wherein the adjacent first type node is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.
 11. A method in a node in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises: communicating with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are of a first type and constitute first type nodes that use backhaul communication when communicating with each other; and receiving a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the method comprises: requesting re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and receiving re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises sending a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal directly to a farther first type node.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the node is a first type node that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding backhaul channel, and for communication with said farther first type node via a via-a-direct backhaul channel.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the farther first type node is a first type node that is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.
 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the node is a second type node that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding access channel, and for communication with said farther first type node via a via-a direct access channel.
 16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the communication between the first type nodes is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel, and where at least one first type node is used for communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes via a corresponding access channel, each group of second type nodes comprising at least one second type node, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes.
 17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises re-transmitting the signal in temporarily inactive time periods where the node and the farther node are not used for communication with other nodes.
 18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ.
 19. A method in a first type node in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises: communicating with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that uses backhaul communication when communicating with other first type nodes; receiving a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and forwarding the signal to a receiving node; wherein the method comprises deleting the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adjacent first type node is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.
 21. A wireless communication system comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network which comprises at least a node adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are first type nodes which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication; and to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the node is adapted to: request re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and to receive a re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node; and a first type node, where the first type node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication; receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and to forward the signal to a receiving node; wherein the first type node is adapted to delete the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not. 